Florida State University Top Questions

Colllege is a big step in becoming a successful adult in the future. Transitioning from high school to college is extremely hard for everyone even those of us that were considered the most prepared. Taking AP, dual enrollment, and advanced level classes made the whole work load of college a reality for me. In college, there isn't a professor that constantly reminds you of do dates, it is up to you to categorize importance. The amount of free time you have also changes as you step foot into the university. Although your days end earlier, the amount of time you should be studying and earning on your own should continue. Be confident. Although it is discouraging to walk into a classroom with 239 other students pursueing the same degree, you got accepted to this institution for a reason. High School is like a practice and college is the game. Keep practicing and eventually you will win the game.

I would tell my past self to breath. That all the hard work will be worth it. Except, the work load will only get harder along with your home and social life. Also, do not worry about all the dumb boys that come and go. Working before you started your Summer C was the best idea in the world. You were able to pay for your books and part of your classes. Don't worry about new things. The new things that come into your life will be the best things that will every happen to you, so take every risk and try new things. Don't worry about leave your friends and family. They will all be there when you come home.

Dear past Emily, College is fantastic. However, there are a few things I would like to share with you to make your life easier freshman year. First, learn how to cook. Dining hall food gets pretty boring after the first couple months and it's something you should learn anyway for the future. Second, study smart not hard. Spend a certain amount of hours every week going over the material you covered in class, stay up to date on your readings, and never skip class. When it comes time for the test, absolutely no cramming. Spend the week before reviewing and going over all the notes, readings, and powerpoint slides. Third, I know you are worried about going to a school where you are going to know only two people. There are so many opportunities for you to join clubs, organizations and intramural sports teams to meet people. I know you're also worried about juggling all the sports, classes and clubs. Get a planner and stay organized and you'll be fine. I know these tips will make your transition into college life a lot easier. Sincerely, Future Emily

Apply for bright futures!! Take harder classes sooner because, yes, you WILL need them. Start saving for college sooner, and apply for all scholarships. Plan ahead, and set yourself up to transition fairly easily into multiple majors if your mind isn't made up just yet. Plan ahead.

If I had the chance to go back in time to relay advice to my past high school senior self, I would say that having the determined mindset is good, but to also relax and breathe as I go. Always working will burn you out if you don't laugh every once and a while. College is the time to make sure what you think you want to do turns into what you know you want to do, and you cannot figure that out if you don't explore and learn more about yourself.

High-school Cameron, you probably won't listen to anything I say because I know how hardheaded you are, but start planning for you college life now. There are hundreds of scholarship opportunities, you just have to be willing to look. The best thing you can do for yourself is to start applying now. If you're able to just get a couple scholarships, you won't have to work yourself to death trying to balance school and work. I know it's very easy to work and go to highschool, but college is completely different. All the time you will spend working could be much better used studying or discovering new things, but without scholarships you'll have to work. You'll spend countless nights in the library, but those nights will be much more bearable if you don't then have to go to work the next day. Scholarships are your friend, in fact they're your best friend; don't turn your back on them now.

I would tell my past self to never give up and to continue striving toward our dream of becoming a Biomedical Engineer. If I can reassure my past self that hard work can accomplish this, then our dream can become reality. One day I will be able to build prosthetics for amputees as well as work towards a cure for cancer alongside a team of highly respected experts. I want to be the man that people can depend on; the person that can fix the world's problems one patient at a time. Present-self me would tell past-self me that we will make this dream come true.

I would tell myself two main things about transitioning for college that I overlooked in high school. 1) In high school I was super lazy and didn't really apply for more financial aid and now I'm paying the price literally. If I could go back I would have definitely put forth more effort in finding a stable job and would have tried to make myself stand out merit wise in attempts to get more scholarships. 2) I caused way too depressed during senior year and I would have told myself to live more. You’re only a high school senior once and it is your one last chance to be a teenager before you have real responsibilities. In general I would have told everyone that college is a completely different ball game and that high school doesn’t hold a candle to the kind of experiences and opportunities you get in college. But without building yourself from those high school experiences, college will be a mighty mountain to climb.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, i'd tell myself that it will all work out in the end. In the moment it may feel like you're putting in so much work and energy with little to no results, but trust me everything will work itself out in due time. Trust your gut and do what you feel is right because, like mom always says, at the end of the day its just you. Everything will fall on your shoulders and you can only have yourself to blame, or yourself to thank. The decision is yours. But trust in yourself to make the right decisions!!! I cannot express this enough; believe in yourself, do the work, and amazing things will happen. It may not work how you expect it to, but in the end you will see that where you end up is exactly where you were meant to be.

If I could go back in time I would tell my high school self to get as involved as possible, as early as possible. College is a time of endless opportunities and I think the most difficult part is finding your passion. It took me too long to get involved with what I love but I am happy I did it before it was too late and I had spent thousands of dollars on a degree I do not want. Getting involved is the best way to figure out that crucial piece of your life, to find out what truly excites you. Getting involved gave me the opportunity to discover what I like and don't like. Without exploring I would have never realized my destiny and would still be a Spanish major instead of a Dietetics major. Taking advantage of the opportunities provided will also help to make a college campus not seem so intimidating and will make it easier to find people that you click with. Four years seems like a long time when you are eighteen, but it flies by so make sure you take advantage of every second.